Sarah J. Maas has taken the literary world by storm, becoming the bestselling author of the year so far, according to new data from Circana. With sales of 3.1 million print books in 2024 and two books in the top 10 bestsellers list for March, Maas has solidified her status as a powerhouse in the romance and fantasy genres. Her success is attributed to the rising popularity of BookTok, the reader-centric corner of TikTok that has become a driving force in the publishing industry.
Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, which debuted in 2015, claimed the No. 2 and No. 6 spots on the bestselling books list for March, with sales of 139,440 and 88,099 print copies, respectively. The majority of the top 10 bestselling adult books in March were fantasy or romance novels, with authors like Kristin Hannah and Rebecca Yarros also making their mark on the list. The only non-romance or fantasy title in the top 10 was James Clear’s “Atomic Habits,” showing a slow-down in nonfiction sales for the month.
BookTok favorites like Emily Henry and Laura Nowlin also made appearances on the bestsellers list in March, with their books “Happy Place” and “If Only I Had Told Her” selling over 86,000 copies each. The top 10 list was rounded out by classics like Frank Herbert’s “Dune” and newcomers like Annabel Monoghan’s “Summer Romance,” indicating a mix of both established and emerging authors captivating readers.
Sarah J. Maas’s rise to fame on BookTok showcases the power of social media in boosting authors’ profiles and book sales. Despite releasing her debut novel “Throne of Glass” in 2012, Maas didn’t achieve mainstream success until her works gained traction on TikTok in recent years. Her success has been further solidified by a TV adaptation of “A Court of Thorns and Roses” in development at Hulu, highlighting the impact of online buzz on traditional media platforms.
As the year continues, readers can expect more anticipated releases from BookTok darlings like Emily Henry and Annabel Monoghan, as well as established authors like Elin Hilderbrand and Riley Sager. While overall print book sales have seen a 3% decline in 2024 compared to the previous year, March specifically experienced a 2% drop attributed to decreased adult nonfiction purchases and a decline in “Seuss month” sales. Despite this, Dr. Seuss’s books still held spots on the list of bestselling children’s books for the month, demonstrating the enduring popularity of classic children’s literature.
